Ask the Editor

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First-Page Critique: How to Elegantly Reveal Character Motivations

Evocative scene-setting can be wonderful, but be careful of letting it get in the way of your story’s action and momentum.
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How Can I Set Aside the Cacophony of Writing Advice and Just Write?

Writing advice is everywhere—newsletters, podcasts, workshops—and it can leave you feeling anxious and unproductive. Here's what to do.
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Is It Worthwhile to Write My Memoir, Especially If a Publishing Deal Is Unlikely?

An experienced author of advanced age considers the value of tackling a memoir with resonant themes but a challenging road to publication.
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I Received Conflicting Advice on My Query Letter. What Now?

When a query letter receives conflicting feedback from professionals, how does an unpublished writer decide what to believe?
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How Can I Convince Editors That My Information Can Be Believed?

A writer claiming to have solved a well-known true crime case faces credibility hurdles when pitching his manuscript.
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First Page Critique: How to Better Establish the Tone in Your Opening

When a book is being pitched as a murder-mystery with comedic undertones, it’s important to seed those elements in the opening pages.
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First Page Critique: Defining the Scope of Your Memoir

Readers don’t want to start a memoir already knowing the ending, but it’s important that your pitch specifically defines your story’s scope.
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Your Manuscript Has Been Edited By Top Professionals—But You Still Get Rejected. What Gives?

The process of finishing a book is a victory in itself. But it might be your “practice” book, and the world is waiting for what you write next.
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To Set Beta Reader Expectations, Have an Honest Conversation

Serving as someone’s beta reader doesn’t mean agreeing to read whatever a writer throws at you. It’s okay to set some expectations.
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First Pages Critique: Reduce Repetition to Better Seed the Mystery

In a new feature, our Ask the Editor column reviews the first pages of an unpublished work.
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First Pages Critique: Getting a Handle on Pace

An editor advises that when writing a true crime story it’s best to lean in to the lurid details that will hook readers up front.
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How Do You Move Beyond the Three-Act Structure?

A genre author seeks advice on letting stories unspool more organically while also honoring the reliability of the three act structure.
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How Can I Avoid Lawsuits When Writing Memoir?

Even lesser-known authors can experience legal issues if they don’t perform their due diligence while writing and revising their books.
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First Pages Critique: How to Better Establish Your Setting

In a new feature, our Ask the Editor column reviews the first pages of an unpublished work.
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How to Pursue a Career in Editing: Advice for College Students

Although writing and editing are very different skill sets, much of what you can do to master one will serve you well in the other.
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Is It OK to Ask for Before/After Examples from a Freelance Editor?

If confidentiality prevents a freelance editor from sharing samples of prior work, how does an author gauge who to hire and what to expect?
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Is an Editor Worth the Money?

If you have reason to suspect your story is not quite “there” yet, a professional edit may be what’s needed to push you across the finish line.
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What If You’re New to Writing and Don’t Know How to Fix Things?

Like writing, editing and revision are skills that take time to learn, and they develop only with practice.
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Should I Hire an Editor to Help Cut My Manuscript?

Good editors are expensive, so the best time for a full manuscript review is when you’re pretty sure your book is ready for publication.
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How Big of a Problem Is “Head Hopping”?

Switching POVs within the same scene should only be tackled by experienced fiction writers, and only when it reveals something important.
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How to Avoid Taking Edits Too Personally

When editorial feedback entails rebuilding a manuscript, one writer struggles with not taking it too personally.
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When Should Writers Stand Their Ground Versus Defer to an Editor?

Is it best for unpublished authors to trust the editorial guidance of their agents and editors, especially when it comes to sensitive issues?